Would you cuddle someone your dog doesn’t like?

This poll is inspired by the Sixth Sense thread started by @cylee1180

If you had a good natured dog who liked most people but you either met a planned cuddle partner at a park or were hosting a cuddle at your place and your dog really disliked them (acting aggressive toward them or constantly coming between you like they were trying to protect you) what would you do?

  1. Your dog reacts negatively toward a planned cuddle partner. Would you30 votes
    1. Ignore the dog and go ahead with the cuddle
      36.67%
    2. Find a quick excuse to cancel the cuddle
      50.00%
    3. Other (please elaborate)
      13.33%
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Comments

  • What if the dog doesn't like cats and somebody has their cat's scent on them?

  • @Mike403 Excellent point. Last I checked my dogs don’t talk and love people but do become reticent with people who have a scent that alarms them.

  • I've had some dogs act like they don't like me. It means nothing. They have a very keen sense of smell, but they aren't mind readers.

  • No they are not

  • I completely agree that there could be multiple reasons (or possibly no reason at all) for a dog to react negatively toward someone. But I know people who put a lot of faith in their dog’s apparent comfort level with strangers. Just curious about what other members of the CC community thought about this topic.

  • Just an FYI - as the poll creator I cannot see any more than anyone who participates in the poll (no names or other information). I suspect gender may be a factor in how people respond to this question but that is pure speculation on my part.

  • @JohnR1972 If I had a dog and it usually did not growl/bark at strangers and it did at my cuddler, I might just come right out and say you have to leave. So what if my dog is wrong?

  • @JohnR1972 I think gender absolutely does play a part. I think if a woman has the slightest apprehension about someone and the dog raises a red flag as well then they are more likely to cancel the cuddle.

    I would listen to my dog if it growled at a priest.

  • I had not thought about it, but gender would play a part. Good thread.

  • My dog is a snarky little beast who yippy-yap-growls at anyone who comes near me! If she were big, hella chill and cuddled as well as people do, I might listen to her. But as is, she needs to either shut up and join in, or go away and mind her own dang business.

    also, I love my dog.

  • @quixotic_life - “she needs to either shut up and join in, or go away and mind her own dang business” - that is a great way to put it.

    I had a dog once who growled at anyone wearing a hat but once they took their hat off she was fine. She was a rescue dog so all I can think of is that she might have been mistreated by someone wearing a hat when she was a puppy.

  • Maybe the rescue dog hates bad haircuts and can’t distinguish where the hat ends and the hair begins.

  • edited June 2022

    My dog barks and lunges at every stranger and every dog. He is a rescue, so I forgive him. He's an angel, at home. Sweet, loving, relaxed, playful, obedient, trained. But nope, I don't trust his judgment in people. 😆

    However, to answer your imaginary question...if I had a friendly dog who took issue with someone, no, I wouldn't change my plans. I would likely assume it had been abused by someone with similar physical traits.

    ~ Sunset Snuggles

  • I think children and animals are in tuned to something greater than we are. Animals can sense natural disasters and character traits better than us - it's their survival mechanism to sense if somethingis a predator, prey, or threatening/non-threatening. Babies and kids don't lie.

    I would cancel a cuddle.

  • I think it would be rude to cancel a session after the person showed up without a valid reason. It's almost as bad as standing someone up.

  • edited June 2022

    Hot take: if you cancel a cuddle with someone ONLY because your dog doesn't approve of the person, you're probably an a-hole.

    If getting along with your dog is a deal-breaker for you, that's something you need to discuss in advance. You need to tell the person to be prepared to be turned away at the door, if your dog reacts negatively. I still don't agree with it, but that's the only way to do it without being a complete a-hole.

    But if you turn them away at the door, without prior warning, then you're the a-hole.

    Also, if you make up a BS excuse, that makes you even more the a-hole. Just come out and say that you only cuddle people that your dog approves of.

    I get along with some dogs, not all. A nice, well-behaved German shepherd, or Siberian husky, I'll probably get along with. But a small, neurotic dog such as a chihuahua, I probably won't get along with.

  • @Mike403 I had the same thought at first. I would have to be in the situation before I would know for sure what I would do. I would offer gas money and hope they would take it, but I know that would not make it all OK. Of course, being a woman, unless I thought I could sit on them to stop any wrongdoing, Lol, I would err on the side of safety and not manners. I feel like I have probably been rude to a few guys in the past that had no bad intentions, but I'm not regretting it.

  • @achetocuddle - Carry pepper spray and be ready to aim for his eyes if he tries anything. It's a good self defense tool because it only causes intense pain and temporary blindness, but doesn't leave any permanent injury once the effect wears off. Just enough to get away and call the police.

  • Oh what silly odd questions people ask on this site sometimes

  • edited June 2022

    @Mike403 Validity is subjective. I'd pay for their gas and help see them on their way out. Its a cuddling session, not a court date or prize fight. Worst things have happened.

  • @Mike403 I could do that and I like that you want to give me advice, but I will always pick that funny feeling over manners or not inconveniencing the dude. You know how I am, I think. Not big on throwing my opinion at people. But I have never had to fight to get away from a man and I'm not sure I would handle that emotional fallout well. I don't want to find out.
    And I have known women who were mistreated, to say the least, because they did not want to hurt a man's feelings or put him out in any way. If I were a guy, or anyone for that matter, I would not like someone changing their mind for a reason I disagreed with at their door, just so you know. I didn't mean to make this heavy. Have a good weekend. I continue to look forward to your posts :)

  • If the dog growls and then pees on the cuddler’s leg it is safe to assume a fire hydrant abused the canine in the past.

  • edited June 2022

    Imo, regardless of why someone cancels a cuddling appointment, even at the door, I believe cuddling is about consent; their decision should be respected whether or not you agree with it. If you throw a fit or rage quit or call names, I don't think that's very respectful to their boundaries.

  • @cylee1180 - Then you should communicate the terms of the agreement beforehand. To cancel a session at the door without warning when they didn't do anything wrong is very rude and they just wasted part of day planning and driving to meet you.

  • It can be disappointing, but I feel we are all grown ups and can deal w each situation as best we can.

  • @cylee1180 Not to mention that would scare me sh*tless. Some people just rant, but some ranters follow with physical aggression or violence. It's an unfortunate fact of life that you sometimes don't give people enough credit in order to protect yourself. This thread has made me realize how very different it can be to be a guy; there are so many things guys don't usually have to think about. And kind and academic solutions/actions/reactions are not always best when applied to this big grey area we call life.

  • If they misrepresent something in their profile such as they don't look like their profile picture, that would be a valid reason to cancel... but because your dog behaves a certain way? Like I mentioned earlier in this thread, what if the dog is aggressive towards cats and smells my cat on me?

  • @cylee1180 Exactly we are all grown ups so do the grown up thing and say “If my dog does not like you the session will be canceled” in your
    profile if that is how you roll. What @mike403 and @MountainCuddles are referring to is similar to a bait-and-switch which can elevate tension and I agree with them that you need truth in advertising.. If your dog has a hand in the decision making just be up front and transparent like an adult is all. Happy arrangements are always a two-way street.

    I only hope the dog isn’t a Pit Bull if they take a disliking to me.

  • @FunCartel I'm glad you explained the bait-and-switch thing/comparison cause I did not know what was going on. I've never done stuff like that and would not ever think of that on my own. Sure, state in your profile or at least an early PM that the cuddler has to pass muster with the dog. I know you are smart and you probably knew I was struggling to understand.

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